Machine for crimping sheet metal



M h 6, 1945. c, M, YQDER 1 2,370,702

MACHINE FOR CRIMPING S HEET METAL F'i1edMarch 22, 193s: 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 a CARL M.YODER.

ATTORNEY,

c. M. YODER -MACHINE FOR CRIHPING SHEET METAL March 6, 1945 F'iled March 22, 1939 7 Sheets Sheet 2 I CARI. Mun-R.

32:! I INVENTOR.

I BY

ATTORNEY.

ON L- J c. M. YQDE R 2,370,702

MAC-HIKE FOR CRIMPING SHEET METAL Filed March 22, 1939 7 Sheets- Sheet :s

ATTORNEY.

MACHINE Fofi 'cnmriri sman'r METAL I Filed latch 22. 1939 v 7 SheetsSheet 4 jawed.

INVENTOR.

' CARL MYEDE E ATI'O iN EY.* I

March 6, 19 45,. cf. M. YODER 2,370,702

MACHINE FOR CRIMPING SHEET METAL Filed March 22, 1939 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY.

C. M. YODER MACHINE FOR CRIMPING SHEET'METAL Filed March 22. 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 I my i ll i u a I 1 U c, 201;

INVENTOR.

CARI. MY'oosra.

ATTORNEY:

- March 6, 1945.

s m k March 1945. Y C, M, YODER 2,370,702.

MACHINE FOR CRIMPING SHEET METAL Filed March 22, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 I I; a

- '15 x CARLMYoDER.

- BY S: 4

ATTORNEY.

vices.

i -u1\uTF.D-' STATES f PATENT OFFICE i mourns FOIt sneer METAL I cm M. Yode'n'lakewood. Ohio; Bertha 1.. Yoder,

Lakewood,

liio','-.executri'x vof said Carl M. Yoder, deceased- T Application m 22. 1939;, Serial No. 263,543

Ciaims. (c1. isa-11y invention relates to a machine for crimp ing or emi 'ossing sections of sheet metal.

Another object of the invention is toprovide an improved machine capable of crimping sections of-sheet metaiat any desired angle to their direction of movement.

tions extending longitudinally of each section and separate crimped portions disposed at an angle to the longitudinally crimped portions.

A further object of the invention is to. provide in a machine of this character improved mechanism for controlling certain of the -crimping de- To those versed in machines and processes in the art to which my invention relates, other ob-- jects of my invention. will be apparent from the description hereinafter set forth; V.

, .Themachine or apparatus disclosed herein consists of certain. sets of rolls which. emboss or reinforce sections of sheet metal along longitudinal lines and a set of rolls which embosses or reinforcesthe' sections ontransverse lines, but

the invention is not -'to be limited to such combination of roll sets ascertain of the improvements herein disclosed relate to the set of rolls for transversely embossing the sheet metal sec-- tions and the means for operating or controlling the rotation of these rolls; one fprm pf construction showing -a.roll-set controlled to provide one,

transverseem-bossmentin each section andanother form iii-construction showing a roll set embossments in each section. 1

Fig,3 is a fragmentary view, enlarged, on the line 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 2. l

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections on the lines H and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 3; the latter figure being further enlarged. a

controlled to provide one or more transverse.

' shown in Figs. 9 and 10. I

I Fig. 13 is afragmentary section on the line Fig. 10'is a section on the line III-l0 of; F18. 9. Fig. 10a is a section on the line- Ilia-lilo. of Fig. 10.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line lI-ll of Fig. 9.

Fig. lla is a section similar'to Fig. 11, but

a a showing the parts in their normal positions.

. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine capable of forming in sec-' tion -ofsheet metal one or more crimped por-- Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sideview of parts |a-n of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and'partly in section,'simi1ar to Figs. 3 and 9, but showing a different form of construction. ,Fig. 15 is a fragmentary section on the line |Il5ofFig.14.l Fig. .16 is a fragmentary view showing a modifled form of operating element for use in the construction shown in Fig. 14. v p

, Fig. 17 illustrates asection of material which such as shown in Figs. 9 to 13- or Figs. 14 to 16.

Fig. 18 isanendview of section shown in show-min Figs. 2 and 17.

Fig. 20 is an'end view of the section shown in Fig. 19.

In' carrying out my herein disclosed process, the sections of sheet metal are reinforced longitudinally and transversely and where the sections are utilized as a sheathing or roofing certain of the crlm-ps on each section may be meshed fand interlocked with certain crimps on an 941- Joining section or sections, whereby a continuous surface and other advantages result. In the drawings, I indicates a; frame adapted to support a series .of housings 2, disposed in pairs,.which are spaced longitudinally of the frame I, each pair of housings being provided I with' bearing boxes 2' (preferably containing Fig. 5a is a fragmentary section of parts shown in Fig. 5, but illustrating amodiflcation.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6v of Fig. 3;

I Fig. 7- is a fragmentary 'view of parts shown in Figs. 4 and 5, looking toward the right.

Fig. 81 is a view similar to Fi '7, but showing a modification.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of another modi- -iied form of construction. partly in section; the parts being shown- .in operated position.

anti-friction-bearings) for supporting upper and lower rolls-3, 3a. As these/ housings and the mountings for the'rolls are similar in construction and driven in the same manner, only ,the first set of rolls 3, 3a, and the last set of rolls 3,

3a, are shown.

- 5 indicates a pair of housings positionedbeyond the housings for the last set of-rolls 3, 3 and provided with bearing boxes for supporting "upper and lower rolls", I, to which reference will ,later. be made. The housings 5 "are preferably mounted on the same support with the housings 2. Accordingly, vin'=s.uch arrangement, the hous-v Q ings 5 support the rolls i, 'l',-ln suchrelation'to has been crimped transversely by mechanism the rolls 8, 1-, (as later set forth). take place on one portion of each section of the sheet metal stock while the set-of rolles 3, 3a are operating on another ortion-of the same section, but it will :be obvious that the rolls}, 1 may be spaced for driving each set of rolls 3, 3a and i, I, from f i a shaft 8, preferably formed in=sections 80 (see Fig. 6), whereby the drive for each set of rolls may constitute a unitary assembly with the adjacent housing, access to the latter being provided by means of a removable section 8b. At

one end, the shaft 8 is fixed to a pulley 8 driven by an endless member ID from a pulley H, which is fixed to the shaft'l2 by a suitable motor (not shown) mounted within the frame I. The rolls 6, 1 may bedriven by a separate shaft or a separate motor, dependent upon the distance the rolls 6, I are spaced from the last set of rolls 3, to.

Each upper roll 3 and the roll 6 are adjustable toward and from the adjacent lower roll by means of screws [3 each engaging a nut 13a mounted on the upper end of the adjacent housing 2 or and having at its-lower end a head H which rovtatably fits a socket provided on the adjacent bearingbox for the upper roll, so that by rotating the screws l3 and holding the nuts I30. stationary, each upper roll may be adjusted in either aerate: the rolls 3, 30, that the operations performed by 7 whereas the clutch elements herein are controlled said side walls (see Fig. 2).

at the same speed as that of the lower roll.

The one revolution clutch I6 is substantially similar to the clutch elements shown in Letters Patent No. 2,205,389 (Figs. 4, 5 and 7) the clutch elements therein being controlled by a cam,

by an arm, which in one position holds the clutch elements ininoperative position, but when operated permits the clutch elements to engage to thereby sheet a driving connection. from the sleeve 24 to the shaft W.

The sections of sheet metal (one being shown at' A) are successively delivered to the first set of rolls 3, to, over a guide device 25, preferably consisting of outer guide members 251: having sidewalls between which each section slidesand rollers 26 loosely mounted on the guide device inwardly of The members 250., aresupported on the frame I by brackets'j'l (only one being shown) and connected together by cross members 28, which support an intermediate member 280, arranged parallel to the members 25a to prevent sagging of the sections A as they are delivered to the rolls 3, 3d.

The sets of rolls 3, 3a being driven, as already set forth, serve to feed each section between them from oneset of rolls to the next-and simultaneously carry out the first step of my process in forming one or more longitudinally extending crimps in the section, by preference a centrally disposed crimp a and crimps it along or adjacent set forth, I provide an arrangement of gearing for driving the rolls in any position of adjustment.

, .As thegearlng for driving each set of rolls 3, 3a

is similar, and the-gearing for the set oi, rolls 8, I (in Figs. 1 to 7) differ therefrom in intermittently driving them. through a one-revolution clutch it, which may be of any desired form'of construction. reference is made to Figs. 3 and 6 as follows: the shaft of each .upper roll is provided with a gear I! which meshes with a gear,

and prevents the upper end ofthe yoke l9 from swinging outwardly. The shaft 20 supports a gear 21 in mesh with-the gear l8 and a gear 22 keyed to the shaft of the adjacent lower-roll (see Figs.

3, 6 and 14), the roll shaft being mounted in bearings provided in the outer side walls of the each lateral edge of'the section. As will be understood, each crimp a is formed progressively by providing on each pairof rolls 3, 3a, complementary crimping elements consisting of a circumferential rib 29 on one roll (preferably the lower roll) and a circumferential complementary groove 290 on the other roll; the radius of the rib on each succeeding lower roll increasing with a corresponding decrease in the radius of the groove'in the respective related upper roll, so that the metal section is gradually deformed by these crimping elements from its normal plane to the adjacent housing. The shaft for each lowerroll So has keyed to it a worm gear 23 in mesh with a worm 23a fixed to the adjacent shaftsection 8a (see Fig. 14), whereas the shaft 1y for the lower roll 1 rota-tably supports a sleeve 24 (see Figs. 3 and 6) to which'the adjacent worm gear 23 is keyed, whereby the sleeve is continuously driven. The outer end'of the sleeve is provided with one element of the clutch 16, another element thereof being keyed to the shaft 11/, so that when theone-revolution clutch i6 is operated, as later set forth, the power'of the shaft 8 is transmitted through the worm 23a, worm gear 23, sleeve 24 and clutch l6 totheshaft 1y of the lower roll 1. The gearing between the shafts for maximum height of the crimp. The deformation of the metal section to form the centrally disposed crimp a may start with the first set of rolls 3, 30, but by preference the deformation of the metal section to form the crimps a starts-with one of the succeeding sets of rolls 3, 3a. I provide as many sets of rolls 3, 30 as may be necessary to completely form the crimps a and a as determined by their height and width, as well as the'kind, qualityandthickness of thestock, but to simplify the illustration only the first set of crimping rolls 3, 3a, and the last set of crimping rolls 3, 3a are shown, since the intermediate'roll .sets, their mountings and drive means are of similar construction.

The roll 6 is formed. with circumferential grooves 30 to accommodate the crimps a, a, as the sections feed betweenthem, but such roll is related to the roll I- so as to, avoid feeding of the sections A since these rolls are driven intermittently, as already set forth.

The rolls 6, 1 inmaking one revolution operate to carry out the next step of my process, namely,

that of deforming each section of sheet metal A.

at an angle to its direction of movement. In the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 to '7, the rolls 6, I are provided with complementary crimping elements 3| .eaoh disposed longitudinally of and removably mounted in the body of the adjacent roll, the male element being carried by the lower roll .1 to crimp the metal in the same direceach set of rolls servesto rotate the upper roll tion as the crimps a, a. By preference, 1

vision of operating connections synchronized with the operation or rotation of any of the rolls 3, 3a are eliminated. The control means for the clutch I3 comprises the following: 32 indicates a shaft suitably mounted ecentrically in bearings within the roll 3 and in advance of the adjacent crimping element 3|. Centrally of the rolls 3, I, preferably in alinement with the adjacent groove 33 therein, they are cut away to' form recesses 33, 33a, respectively, to accommodate an arm or trip 34 which is fixed to the shaft 32, the arm when in normal position depending from the shaft 32 and extending into the recess 33a across the path of movement of each section A as the latter feeds between the rolls. At its outer end, beyond the end of the roll 3 adjacent its drive means, the. shaft 32 is provided with alever 35 (see Figs. 4 and 5) arranged to engage with and operate a lever '33 flxedto a rock shaft 31, which is mounted v in bearings provided in the inner and outer walls of the adjacent housing 5- (see Figs. 2 and 3).

free end of the arm 34 is provided with a roller 340 which rolls on the section when the arm is in its. inoperative position indicated at x. 'As the arm 34 is mounted in line with the crimp a, the roller 34a rolls on the upper portion thereof. By

preference, I provide a spring 4I which is connected to the lever and a pin on theadjacent end 'of theroll, the spring being put .under: tension when the arm 34 is arrested by the section A and held in its inoperative position 2:, so that upon release of the arm the spring rocks the shaft 32 to return the arm 34 to normal position, the

swinging movement thereof being limited by the engagement of the lever 35 with the lever 33,

which is held in position.againstwoutwardmovement due to the tension of the spring on the .lever 33 since the tension or resistance to expansion of the spring 43 is greater than that of the spring 4| to make the lever 33 effective as a stop in the return movement of the arm 34.

To prevent any lag or slippage in. the operation of the clutch I3, upon release of the arm 33 from the shoulder 33, to start rotation of the rolls 3, I,

I provide on one ofthe rolls 6, I an abutment which is engaged by the arm 34 as it is being operated by the advancing end of. the 'section A,

' so that the latter through the arm will start Adjacent its outer end, the rock shaft 31 is provided'with an arm 33 normally disposed in engagement with a lug 33 (see dotted lines in Fig. 4) carried by therelease element lid of the one revolution clutch- I3. With the parts positiiflied as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, it will be seen that in the forward movement of the section A its 8417- vancing front end will engage the arm 34 and swing it clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 5) and rock the shaft 32;. the shaft 32 in turn through the levers 35, 33, rocks the shaft 31 which swings the lever 33 outwardly in opposition to the tension of a spring 43 (which is connected at one end to the lever 36 and suitably anchoredat its other endsee Figs.- 4 and 5) and disengages it from the shoulder 39 to release whereupon a spring (similar to that shown at I31: in Fig. 11a) connected to the clutch element I3a operates the latter to effect engagement of the position after'the shoulder 33- in the path a; the shoulder, to

clutch elements and thereby. connect-the sleeve 24 to the shaft 111 of the roll I, whereby the rolls 3, -'Itarerotate?i andasth'arm 33 is connectedto the spring 43, it swings back into its normal passes the'arm 33,

clutch element Isa and throw out the clutch I3, thereby permitting one revolution only of the rolls 3, I. It will thus be seen make one revolution and then stop, the effect ofwhich is to move the crimping elements 3linto engagement with the section A and. crimp it as the section passes through and between these.

. rolls. As shown, the crimping elements 3| on th roll 'I extend radially beyondits'periphery and 3 are within the pethereby arrest the 4 rotation of she rolls 8, I. Theabutment preferably consi ts in arranging the rear wall of the recess 33a in relation to the normal position of the arm 34 so as to be engaged thereby immediately after the arm 33 has disengaged the shoulder 33. As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the rear wall In: of the recess, when the roll I is in normal position, extends upwardly and rearwardly. and

quickly insure rotation of the rolls the arm 34 engages with the wall In: at a point remote from the axis of the roll I and in a direction substantially at right angles to a radius cutting the wall Ix, so that the arm, ated by the moving section, will be effective to initially start rotationof the rolls and thus permit .the drive means, through the" clutch I6, to 3, I at their maximumspeed. If anyadjustment is found to be required to change the relation of the arm 34 to the abutment Ir, a screw 34x (see Fig. 5a) may be mounted in this wall portion of the roll so that the clutch element I30,

one end of the screw will serve as the abutment and effect adjustment of such end by a turn of the screw.

j 3', aa' indicate a set of rolls mounted'on the "support I beyond the rolls gearing similar to that herein referred to for driving the rolls 3, 3a, for feeding the sections after passing the rolls 3, I and delivering them to a suitable support 3:: or carrier (not shown).

that the rolls 3, "I

- The rolls 3, 3a' preferably consist. ofa plurality of; sets of collars each disposed in alinement with one of the crimps 11,41", and shaped on their peripheries to receive and engage the walls of the crimps.

Fig. 8 illustrates afmodiflcation wherein the 4 rolls 3, I areprovided with crimping elements 3la (already referred to), extending he1ically,"so that the c-rimps formed thereby in the advancing sections extend at'an' inclined angle, for example, at

the angle shown in Fig. '17. In this forth of construction' the rolls 3, I are controlled as already described in connection shownin Figs. -1 to 7, inclusive,

, Fig. 9-to 13,:inclusive, illustrate a form of conjstruction'wherein each section may he provided 1 with one or' more transversely arranged reinforccrimps and. spaced uniformly orgotherwise.

. 3. I in the path of the succeeding section A; The

as it is oper- 6, I and driven by i with the construction which the sections predetermined distances when two or more crimps are formed in each section. This form or construction also permits two or morev reinforcing crimps to be formed in each section in predetermined spaced relationvwithout making it necessary to employ large sized rolls for the crimping elements. In these views 6', 1' indicate the upper and lower rolls carrying the crimping elements 3 I b, the male elements being mounted on the lower roll I and the female elements being mounted onthe upper roll 5', and the latter rollbeing formed with circumferential grooves 30' to accommodate the reinforcing crimps a, a, formed by the set of "rolls shown four sets of crimping elements 3) (one male element and one female element constituting a set) on the rolls 6', I, which operate in any predetermined order (successively or otherwise) under the control of a mechanism indicated as an entirety at 42; but it will be understood that the number of sets or crimping elements may be decreased orincreased to meet any desired spacing of the crimps. The rolls 5', l are drivingly connected and driven similarly to the driving connections and driving means for the rolls 6, I, as already set forth, namely, a clutch i5 having one element con.- nected to the shaft for the lower roll I and the other clutch element connected'to the sleeve 24, to which is keyed the worm gear 23 in mesh with the worm 23a. driven by the shaft 8', but the clutch ii for the rolls 6', I, insteadwf being operated directly by each section of material A,

I incorporate between the'device 34', which is engaged by each section A, andthe clutch IS, the

mechanism 42 which controls the driving, stopping and periods of rest of the rolls 6, I, in any predetermined manner, wherebyall or certain of said sets of crimping elements Slb are brought into engagement with each sheet metal section at desired portions thereof between its front and rear ends to crimp it. The device 34' in this form of construction, is fixed to or formed integral with the outer end of a sleeve 43 suitably mounted on a stud shaft 43a carried by the adjacent side wall of the adjacent housing 5 below the plane in A feed (see Figs. 9 and 10). The trip device 34' is normally disposed as shown in'dotted lines in Fig. 10, so that its .free end portion is arranged in the path of movement of the advancing. front end of each section as the latter is fed forwardly by the rolls 3, 3a to the rolls 6', 1', sucha'dvancing end operating to swing the device to the position shown in full lines, to set in operation .the control or indexing mechanism 42, which is constructed and operates in the following manner, the partsthereof being shown in operated position. 44 indicates a lever (which may be in alinement with the-device 34') fixed to the sleeve 43 between the housing 5 and lower roll 1'. The outer end of the lever 44 is pivoted to one .end of a link 45, the opposite end of which is pivotallyconnected to one arm 46 of a bell crank; (the other arm 45a of which will be later referred to) fixed to the inner end of a shaft 41. The shaft 41 is suitably mounted in the inner and outer sidewalls of the adjacent housing 5. The outer end portion of the shaft 41 is provided with a dog 48 normally disposed in engagement'with the shoulder 49 of a lock and release member 49a arranged to operate one'element 50 of a, suitable clutch 50a. The element 50 is keyed to a driving shaft 5|, suitably supported in the side walls of the housing and extends inwardly beyond the inner side wall thereof for 3, id, as already set forth. For illustrative purposes I have apropos shaft 51. The 52, which is in mesh with an idler gear 52a, the latter being in )mesh with a gear 521) keyed to the sleeve 24', whereby the sleeve 5% is continuously driven by the shaft ii through the worm 23a and worm gear 23'. The clutch a may be of any well known construction, for example, similar to the plutch 15' (see Figs. 9 and 11), having the lock and release member 49a, which in one position, maintains the clutch elements disengaged and upon' disengagement of the dog 48 therefrom permits them to engage under the influence of the spring I63: to transmit power from the driven element 50 to the element 50a. On its extended end, the shaft 5| is providedwith a sprocket 53 around which and a guide sprocket 54 runs an endless chain 55, the chain being removable from the sprockets. The sprocket 54 rotates on a stud shaft 56 between inner and outer collars 5611; the inner end of the shaft extending through an elongated slot 51 formed in an adjacent wall of the support I (see Figs. 12 and -13) As shown in Big. 13, the inner collar 56;: is clamped to the supporting wall by a nut b, which when loosened permits the stud shaft to be adjusted along the slot 51 to take up slack in the chain 55. The chain 55 may be of any desired length and where necessary, on account of its length, it.may be guided around two or more guide sprockets. The chain 55 is provided with one or more operating or indexing go from, in a pro-arranged manner or order to rotate the rolls 521', and stop them in any predetermined position, that is, with one set of crimpin connect the clutch, and as each of the elements elements in position to form a crimp in the succeeding rotary movement of the rolls. vEach operating element 58 serves to connect in the clutch i6 and each operating element 58a serves to dis- 58, 58a is removably mounted on the chain links,

they may be arranged in any desired order and relation; or by providing separate chains 55,1;he elements on each chain may be arranged in a different order and relation. It will thus be seen that if all of the elements 58a except one thereof are omitted from the chain 55, once the rolls 8', I. are started rotating, the sets of crimping elements 3th will operate successively and form crimps in transversely spaced relatiorilongitudinally of the section until the element 58a becomes efiecti-ve; or by spacing each element 58a from the succeeding element 58, so that the section A advances while the rolls 6", I are at rest, the spacing between adjoining crimps may be varied in any desired manner. It will also be seen that by proper positioning of each element 58a relative to the succeeding element 58 either a uniform or non-uniform spacing of the crimps b may be formed in each section, the minimum spacing of the crimps being dependent upon the spaced angular relation of the sets of crimping elements on the rolls 6, 1. operating elements 58, 58a, the operating elements 58a are positioned to' effect stoppage of the rolls 6', 1", in a predetermined position or positions, so that when the rolls are at rest, the section'A is free to be advanced between them without en- 50a is provided with a In all arrangements of the the illustrated construction of rolls'8f, I, I have provided four sets of crimping elements am; if only one crimp is to be formed in the section A or if two or more crimps spaced a greater distance from each other than the spacing of the crimping elements on the rolls, then each operating element 58a is related to the operating element 58 in advance thereof on the chain 55' so as to- Stop the rolls following the operation of each set of crimping elements with'the succeeding set in the position-shown; if two or more crimps are to be formed by successively related 58a islrelated to the operating element 58 in advance thereof on the. chain 55-to stop the rolls following the operation ofthe last set of crimping elements with the succeeding set in the position shown. By preference each operating tween certain of the chain links and suitably mounting. on such extended end rollers, so that one series of operating elements traverse a path different from that traversed by the other series,- this arrangement permitting a wide range of control of the crimping rolls 8", I, as alreadyset forth. Each operating element 58 is cam-shaped and engages two adjoining pivots pins to which it is clamped by a plate engaged by screws 58b and threaded into the inner wall of the element. The operating elements 58, 58a; control the clutch [8' through the following instrumentalities: 59 indicates a bell-crank fulcrumed on the shaft 41 inwardly'of the bell-Erank provided with the arms 45, 46a, the arms 59a, 59bof thebell crank 59, when in normal position, being'shown in dotted lines (Fig. 10) anddisposed in operative relation to the elements 58, 58a, respectively; that is, the 1 arm 59a is normally arranged in the path of.

to stop the rolls 8, 'l" at predetermined positions as already described;

From the foregoing description it will be noted that while the 'rollsii'. 1' may be started and stopped by the operation of the clutch lock and .release member i8a' one .or more times during the feeding. of each section, the clutch 50a remains drivingly connected to the shaft 5 i to rotate it and drive the chain 55 so long as the trip device 34'remains in operative position. The trip device 34 after being operated by the advancing end of each section A, as already described, is-heldin such position, by its engagement with the under side of the section, but is free to be returned to normal'position after the rear end of the section feeds beyond it. To disconnect the clutch 50a and return the trip device 84' to normal position, I'provide on the chain 55, on that side thereof opposite to the operating elements 58a, a laterally extending member 65 (preferably constructed similarly to each of the elements 58a) which is arranged to engaged the bellcrankarm 45a and swing'the bell. crank to normal position and rock the shaft 41 and through the arm 45, link 45 and lever 44, swing the trip device 34 to normal. position and through the shaft 41 swing the dog 48 -into the path of movement of the shoulder 49 1 and thus disconnect the clutch 50a from the shaft construction, clutch [5 being illustrated some-- what in detail in Figs. 9 and 11a. As shown in 5| to stop rotation of the latter and operation 'of' the chain 55. The clutches I5, 16 and 50a are similarin 18a for each cam (see dotted lines in Fig. 1111),

the balls being located between spaced lugs lGsc" extending laterally from the release member lfla;

also, the spring Ilia: is connected to the release movement of the operating elements 58 and the "1:?arm 59bis out of' the path of movement of the elements 58a. v

When the arm 59a is engaged by each of the operating'elenients 58, the arms 58a, 58b are swung to the position shown in full lines, the

latter arm being then positioned in'the path of' movement of the operating elements 58a so that when the arm 59b is engaged by the succeeding element 58a the arms 58a, 59b are returned to their normal positions.,-'It will thus be seen that so long as the chain 55 is driven, the bell crank may be swung in one direction to start the rolls 8', I rotating and in the opposite direction to 58, 58a, one or more crimps may be, formed in each section and the spacing between them may be varied, except that the minimum spacing will correspond to the angular relation of the crimping elements on the. rolls 8', 'l'. The bell-crank 59 is provided with a separate arm 50 to which is pivoted one end of a link 8|, the other end thereof being pivoted to an arm 82 .fixed to the inner end of a .rock shaft 63. The outer end of the rock shaft83-is provided with a dog 84 normally engaging one of the shoulders 84a on the lock and release member l8a'jof the clutch l8',.but ar-' ranged to be released therefrom, as shown in Fig.

member Ilia" and the clutch element i5" and isheld under tension when the arm .64 is engaged with a stop 84a (Fig. 11a), but upon release of thearm 84, the spring Ilia: rotates the member l8a' which, through the lugs- I5:c" carried thereby,

. moves the balls lBrc' into engagement with the cams, whereby the clutch elements are connected to connect-the shaft 1" to the sleeve 24'. Upon re-engagement of the arm 64 with the next or a succeeding stop 84a, the rotation of the member l8a'v is arrested, the balls I5m are released from the cams, whereby'the shaft "I" is disconnected from the sleeve 24', and thespring I89: is put undertension ready for the next operation.

In-Figs. 9, l1 and 11a, the operation of each ,of the clutches l5 and5iia is controlled by an arm, which is positively operated to' release the adjacent release element of the clutch, whereby the latter becomes effective, and to re-engage the release element and effect a disengagement of the clutch elements; whereas in Figs. 1 to 5, the arm is normally biased into engagement with the r lease element of the clutch l5 and is tripped by operation oi. the device 34, so that it immediately returns to normal position and hence permits the clutch to make one revolution each time the arm is tripped.

. Figs. 14 and l5'illustrate, a different form of construction inwhich the rolls 8;, 1a, which carry the transversely arranged setsof. crimping elements 3lc, are geared together in the manner already set forth, but the shaft 111' for the lower roll la! is connected directly to the worm gear 23 so that the rolls are continuously rotatedto form 'crimps in spaced relation longitudinally of the section at one or either side of the crimp a. The roll 6:: may be formed with circumferential grooves "a: and the roll is: provided with circumferential ribs 3.2: in alinement with the grooves lllxto accommodate the amps a, a, as each section-feeds between theseroils. By providing helically shaped crimping elements i ,(as indicated at filo in Fig. 16), the reinforcing crimps, when formed, will be inclined as shown at 1) mm. 17.

It wlll'be understood that-the crimping ele-.

- ments 29, 29a, on theroll's 3, 3a, and the crimp ing elements on the rolls which form the transverse crimps may be variously shaped to form reinforcements or reinforcing embossments of any/desired design and arrangement and that the sections to be reinforced prior to their being fed to the sets of rolls, may be subjected to n preliminary cutting operation, dependent upon the application of thesections in their final movement of each section and arranged to be operated thereby to operate said first mentioned device. 1

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1' wherein the connected together devices are carried by one of said rolls.

. 1g thereof, theshafts for said'rolls being geared form; for example, the lateral-portions of the sections may be cut away at c to, form laterally extending wings c"(see Figs. 19 and-20) and the sets of rolls 3, In shaped to deform the sections as as shown at d and the wings at d' and the trans-,

verse crimping rolls-to deform the wings as. shownate.

It will be notedthat the rolls carrying the transverse crimping elements are set in operation by the advancing end of, each section, either directLv' as shown in Figs, 3, 4 and 5, or indirectly as shown in Figs. 9, 10, 11, and the element that is engaged by the section is held in operated gether for-simultaneous rotation, .a 'driving connection between said driving mechanism and the shaft for one of said .rolls, said connection comprising spring controlled normally engaged clutch elementa'and a spring operated trip device for normally holding said elements in disengaged relation, and means controlledby the.

advancing end of .each section for tripping said device. said tripping means including an element I carried by one of said rolls intermediate the ends thereof and normally disposed in the path of movement of each'section.

4. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with means for feeding sections of sheet metal and driving mechanism for said {ceding means, of a pair of rolls having on their peripheries crimping elements arranged to transversely emboss, the metal section's during feeding thereof, the shafts for said rolls being geared toposition until the section has passed through the transverse'crimping rolls. Thesectionsmay be of any desired length or varyin length without 8 is or aflectmg the manner which ,ofmovement of the -sections and arranged to be rolls operate.

To those skilled in the ar'tto which my inven-.

tion relates many changes in construction and are purely illustrative and are not intended to b in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

I -1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for feeding sections of said device and said clutch, said device extending into thelrecess of the other roll and arranged 'gether for simultaneous rotation, and thepe- 1 ripheriesof said rolls beingformed with related recesses. and means for drivingly connecting one cr -said shafts to said driving mechanism, com-' prising aclutch, a device pivotallyf mounted on one of said rolls in the recess-thereof in the path engaged and operated by the'advancing end of each thereof and operating'connections between I when operated by each section to engagethe rear ,wall of the adjacent recess and supplement the operation of said driving means to start rotation of Sam rolls. I a p 5; In a machine of the class described, the

combination with means for feeding sections of sheet metal and driving mechanismfor said A feeding meansjof 811311 of rolls havingon their taxed totransperipheries crimping elements arr ve'rsely emboss the metal sections during feeding thereof, the shafts for said rollsbeing seared '-together for simultaneous rotation, a clutch hay-- ing one element connected-toand driven by said driving mechanism, anotherclutch element fixed .to the-shaft for one of said rolls and sprint operated means normally connecting said clutch elements; together, apivoted stop for'en'gaging an eleni'entof said spring. operated means for means :in'an inoperative position, a spring normally sheet metal and driving mechanism for said feediilig means, of apair-of rolls having on their perip eries crimping elements hrranged to transversely emboss the. metal sections duringfeeding thereoL'the shafts for said rolls being .-geared 'togather for simultaneousmotation, a clutch having one element connected driven by said driving mechanism, another clutch element fixed to the shaft for-one of said rolls andspring operated means normally connectingsaid clutch elements togethen-a pivoted stop for engaging an element of said spring operated means for hold- 1 ing said means infan inoperative position,'and

, tendingtoswiliaae dbtopinto' 4 engagement "with the last menticned elemenhand connected tosether devices, on ram m 4 vices being-related tosaidstop and operableto 1- trip the latter from saidlast mentionedelement and the other device being intermediate the ends .of one of said rollsiand in the o!- :10

connected together devices, one of said devices being related to said pivoted stop and operable to disengage it from said spring operated means and I the other device being r arranged between and intermediate the ends of said rollsandjnormally disposed in the pathof movement of each section and arranged to be operated thereby-to operate said first mentioneddevice.- i, l CARLMIODER. 

